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During the 2010s to the present day, there was  the “reemergence” of catering to “on-demand aviation services” that focus on goods delivery and passenger mobility such as the ability of booking a helicopter through a smartphone.<ref name=":02" /> BLADE, SkyRyde, and UberCopter are just some examples of companies that are offering passenger mobility helicopter services. <ref name=":02" /> Additionally, [[NASA]] and the [[United States Air Force]] initiated a focus to improve safety and scalability of [[UAV-systems hardware chart|UAM systems]] through the launch of the AAM National Campaign and Agility Prime.<ref name=":02" /> NASA showed this initiative by signing agreements with 17 companies to test UAM vehicles and systems.<ref name=":02" /> On the other hand, the U.S. Air Force's Agility Prime program demonstrates a focus on scalability through exploring vertical flight opportunities for military applications.<ref name=":02" />
During the 2010s to the present day, there was  the “reemergence” of catering to “on-demand aviation services” that focus on goods delivery and passenger mobility such as the ability of booking a helicopter through a smartphone.<ref name=":02" /> BLADE, SkyRyde, and UberCopter are just some examples of companies that are offering passenger mobility helicopter services. <ref name=":02" /> Additionally, [[NASA]] and the [[United States Air Force]] initiated a focus to improve safety and scalability of [[UAV-systems hardware chart|UAM systems]] through the launch of the AAM National Campaign and Agility Prime.<ref name=":02" /> NASA showed this initiative by signing agreements with 17 companies to test UAM vehicles and systems.<ref name=":02" /> On the other hand, the U.S. Air Force's Agility Prime program demonstrates a focus on scalability through exploring vertical flight opportunities for military applications.<ref name=":02" />

== Development ==

=== Designs ===
Air taxi designs vary to accommodate various numbers of passengers.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Johnson |first=Wayne |last2=Silva |first2=Christopher |last3=Solis |first3=Eduardo |date=2018-01-16 |title=Concept Vehicles for VTOL Air Taxi Operations |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20180003381 |language=en}}</ref> [[NASA|Nasa]] has proposed various designs that could accommodate various numbers of passengers such as: single, six, and fifteen passenger air taxi aircraft.<ref name=":1" /> [[NASA|Nasa]] has analyzed three possible options of  vehicle design to outweigh the most optimal model for missions, in which they compare mathematical statistics for a hybrid, turboshaft, and electrical aircraft models<ref name=":1" />. Whereas for more of a single path commercial use the [[European Union Aviation Safety Agency]] propose that electrical aircrafts will be the main source of power for air taxis, to ensure that air taxis are being designed with the new electronical technology. <ref>{{Cite web |title=VTOL designs for Urban Air Mobility {{!}} EASA |url=https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/light/topics/vtol-designs-urban-air-mobility |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=www.easa.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref>

Various Designs have been considered when it comes to the development of Air Taxis. Development of designs are used for different purposes in based on the following criteria
[[File:Bell_Nexus_Air_Taxi_-_3.jpg|thumb|Bell Nexus Air Taxi]]

==== Types of Propellers <ref name=":1" /> ====

# [[Quadrotor]] <ref name=":1" />
# Side by Side Helicopter Propellers - two propellors on opposite ends<ref name=":1" />
# Tiltwing- 4 Propellers line up horizontally<ref name=":1" />

For the most part, air taxis will be designed to be electrical and function as a helicopter. <ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Chokshi |first=Niraj |date=2023-09-25 |title=Air Force Receives Its First Electric Air Taxi |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/25/business/air-force-joby-electric-air-taxi.html |access-date=2024-04-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>Many companies such as [[Joby Aviation]] have partnered with the military to learn and redesign operations of the aircrafts.<ref name=":3" /> Joby’s partnership with the military allows for various testing within the military environment, such as transportation of cargo, medical evacuations, etc. <ref name=":3" /> Air taxis can be used for both commercial and private use to improve air mobility.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=#UAMglossary: Autonomous Air Taxi |url=https://www.volocopter.com/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Volocopter |language=en}}</ref> The purpose will determine designs and technology, in which for the most part commercial use is predicted to be created as autonomous aircrafts. <ref name=":4" />


==Regulation==
==Regulation==

Revision as of 00:58, 13 April 2024

Introduction

The air taxi market is an application of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) - air transportation systems that utilize advanced technologies such as vertical takeoffs, autonomous capabilities, or fully-electric systems -  for short to mid range on-demand flights[1][2]. Many AAM vehicles are designed for Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) or Vertical Takeoff and Landings (VTOL); electric VTOL aircraft are also prominent, known as eVTOLs.[2]

Another noteworthy term for the air taxi market is Urban Air Mobility (UAM), which is a sub-category of AAM focused on applications in urban settings.[2]

A DHC-6 Twin Otter of Maldivian Air Taxi in Malé, Maldives

History

The concept of air taxis existed as early as the 1910s to 1950s.[3] This concept goes back as early as 1917 with Glenn Curtiss’ prototype, the auto-plane.[3] Furthermore, during the 1920s to the late 1950s, various inventors created their own prototypes. Such inventors included Henry Ford, Waldo Waterman, and Moulton “Molt” Taylor. [3]However, each of these projects faced challenges which included crashes, lack of funding, or technical difficulties.[3] After all this experimentation and challenges faced, the urban air mobility industry had shifted focus on “improving safety and enhancing economic and operational efficiency of vertical flight".[3]

The next phase from the 1950s to the late 1980s included urban air mobility services through the use of helicopters within major cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York; however, the challenges of fuel costs and safety have made it difficult to commercialize using helicopters for urban air mobility.[3]

During the 2010s to the present day, there was  the “reemergence” of catering to “on-demand aviation services” that focus on goods delivery and passenger mobility such as the ability of booking a helicopter through a smartphone.[3] BLADE, SkyRyde, and UberCopter are just some examples of companies that are offering passenger mobility helicopter services. [3] Additionally, NASA and the United States Air Force initiated a focus to improve safety and scalability of UAM systems through the launch of the AAM National Campaign and Agility Prime.[3] NASA showed this initiative by signing agreements with 17 companies to test UAM vehicles and systems.[3] On the other hand, the U.S. Air Force's Agility Prime program demonstrates a focus on scalability through exploring vertical flight opportunities for military applications.[3]

Development

Designs

Air taxi designs vary to accommodate various numbers of passengers.[4] Nasa has proposed various designs that could accommodate various numbers of passengers such as: single, six, and fifteen passenger air taxi aircraft.[4] Nasa has analyzed three possible options of  vehicle design to outweigh the most optimal model for missions, in which they compare mathematical statistics for a hybrid, turboshaft, and electrical aircraft models[4]. Whereas for more of a single path commercial use the European Union Aviation Safety Agency propose that electrical aircrafts will be the main source of power for air taxis, to ensure that air taxis are being designed with the new electronical technology. [5]

Various Designs have been considered when it comes to the development of Air Taxis. Development of designs are used for different purposes in based on the following criteria

Bell Nexus Air Taxi

Types of Propellers [4]

  1. Quadrotor [4]
  2. Side by Side Helicopter Propellers - two propellors on opposite ends[4]
  3. Tiltwing- 4 Propellers line up horizontally[4]

For the most part, air taxis will be designed to be electrical and function as a helicopter. [6]Many companies such as Joby Aviation have partnered with the military to learn and redesign operations of the aircrafts.[6] Joby’s partnership with the military allows for various testing within the military environment, such as transportation of cargo, medical evacuations, etc. [6] Air taxis can be used for both commercial and private use to improve air mobility.[7] The purpose will determine designs and technology, in which for the most part commercial use is predicted to be created as autonomous aircrafts. [7]

Regulation

In Canada, air taxi operations are regulated by Transport Canada under Canadian Aviation Regulation 703. The Canadian definition of air taxi includes all commercial single-engined aircraft, multi-engined helicopters flown by visual flight rules by one pilot and all multi-engined, non-turbo-jet aircraft, with a maximum take-off weight 8,618 kg (18,999 lb) or less and nine or fewer passenger seats, that are used to transport people or goods or for sightseeing.[8]

In the United States, air taxi and air charter operations are governed by 14 CFR Part 135 and 14 CFR part 298 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR).[9]

Air taxi operators

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air taxis.
  1. ^ Goyal, Rohit; Reiche, Colleen; Fernando, Chris; Serrao, Jacquie; Kimmel, Shawn; Cohen, Adam; Shaheen, Susan (2018-11-21). "Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Market Study". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ a b c https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/AAM-I28-Implementation-Plan.pdf
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Cohen, Adam P.; Shaheen, Susan A.; Farrar, Emily M. (2021-09). "Urban Air Mobility: History, Ecosystem, Market Potential, and Challenges". IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems. 22 (9): 6074–6087. doi:10.1109/tits.2021.3082767. ISSN 1524-9050. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Johnson, Wayne; Silva, Christopher; Solis, Eduardo (2018-01-16). "Concept Vehicles for VTOL Air Taxi Operations". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ^ "VTOL designs for Urban Air Mobility | EASA". www.easa.europa.eu. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  6. ^ a b c Chokshi, Niraj (2023-09-25). "Air Force Receives Its First Electric Air Taxi". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  7. ^ a b "#UAMglossary: Autonomous Air Taxi". Volocopter. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  8. ^ Transport Canada (1 December 2009). "Canadian Aviation Regulations Part VII - Commercial Air Services Subpart 3 - Air Taxi Operations". Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  9. ^ Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs). Federal Aviation Administration.
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